Peter S. Fosl

Peter S. Fosl is Professor of Philosophy and Chair at Transylvania University. He writes: "I’ve devoted a great deal of my professional energy to coming to terms with the history of western philosophy. I think understanding where we’ve been, how we got where we are, and perhaps what we’ve mistakenly left behind crucial to a life of reflection. A couple of topics and time periods have been especially interesting to me: early modern European philosophy, the Scottish Enlightenment (especially the work of David Hume), and the topic of skepticism (of any time period). Skepticism interests me because I find questions concerned with what to call "true," "good," and "beautiful" both inescapable and compelling. Like many of us, I suppose, I find myself having to make judgments about such things, but I find it extremely difficult and important to figure out—really figure out—the best way of doing so, if there is a best or even a better way. I’m also fascinated by feminist philosophies and issues of gender and sexuality because I think that the current reevaluation of these issue is a terribly exciting and important part of the times in which we live. I do work in logic and law because I think reason and justice to be some of our greatest accomplishments, in particular with regard to race, but I think we still have quite a distance to go with them. I work in the philosophy of religion because I think that religion presents both possibilities for the achievement of human meaning and profoundly damaging and harmful pathologies. But perhaps most generally, I have devoted myself to making philosophy available and interesting on a broader scale than that afforded by colleges, universities, and professional societies. I think one of the most serious deficiencies (or at least missed opportunities) of the world today is its paying little attention to philosophy. Philosophy is, I think, well worth the time of one's life to discover and to engage; and I hope to make at least a small contribution to helping others to do so. It's for this reason that I have done things like teach at small, teaching-oriented liberal arts colleges, serve as contributing editor to The Philosophers' Magazine, and write books like The Philosopher's Toolkit. It's also why I've joined AskPhilosophers.org."